''You Have to Compete''
Kyshawn George had quite a few memorable moments during his rookie season in the NBA.
His very first game last year came against the then-defending champion Boston Celtics. A few months later, in a win over the Detroit Pistons, he became the fastest Wizards rookie to connect on 100 3-pointers, needing only 59 games to reach that mark.
He started 38 of the 68 games in which he played and the former Hurricanes standout from Monthey, Switzerland set another Wizards rookie record when he made at least one 3-pointer in 31 straight games.
But for all of his success, George wasn’t among the players invited to Rising Stars, the NBA’s All-Star Weekend showcase featuring the league’s top young players.
It was a slight that didn’t go unnoticed.
“I won’t say I was disappointed,” George said. “But also, I knew internally that I was better than most of the players that were there, so I just kind of doubled down on the work that I did. I didn’t change much, ultimately, but I just made sure that I kept doing what I needed to do. I trusted the work that I was putting in every single day and it just made me realize that you can’t wait for stuff to be given to you. You have to go get it yourself.”
This season, things have been different.
George’s work ethic, combined with the experience and knowledge he gained his rookie season, have made for an impressive sophomore campaign that didn’t just have him at this year’s Rising Stars tournament in Inglewood, Calif.
It had him holding a trophy once the event was over.
George, who was joined by Wizards teammates Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson and Alex Sarr at Rising Stars, was part of Team Vince, which won the event with a 25-24 win over Team Melo.
George totaled four assists, three rebounds and two points in the first-to-25 championship game of the four-team mini-tournament that took place on the Friday of All-Star Weekend.
And for him, making the most of his opportunity to play on that stage was a given.
“I mean, at the end of the day, you’re playing a basketball game. You have new teammates for one night and you just have to go out there and I think you have to compete,” George said. “I think you have to treat it with respect, and I think that’s what we went out there and did. So, to be able to actually come out with a win, it just makes everything so much better.”
While George is currently nursing an elbow injury that is expected to sideline him for a bit – and force him to miss Tuesday night’s game against the Heat here in Miami – his productivity has, as expected, been higher for the Wizards during his second NBA season.
The forward – a first-round pick of the Wizards in the 2024 NBA Draft – is averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, an improvement from a year ago when he averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
He’s grown more comfortable and confident in his game, and he says that’s made all the difference when he’s been on the floor this season.
“Definitely a lot,” George responded, when asked how much he’s improved since his playing days at Miami. “Especially in the physicality of the NBA game, just getting in the paint and making a decision for myself to either get a shot up or pass it over to a teammate and put him in a situation where he could do something with the ball. Definitely that. The shooting has always been there. It’s always going to be there. … But defensively, just being able to guard some of the best players early in my career and in my rookie year, just the more reps you get against good players, the more your game is going to evolve. So, just in general, I think the physicality, the experience, the defense, everything has just taken a step.”
That doesn’t mean George is done learning – not by any stretch.
During All-Star Weekend, he had the opportunity to connect with some of the biggest names in basketball, including at a pre-Rising Stars workshop where he had the chance to listen to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discuss his career, the NBA and more.
Another highlight of George’s Rising Stars experience?
Getting to share those four days with his family, which joined him in California and got a small taste of what his life is like these days.
“We were coming out of an event, and I was able to see Scottie Pippen,” George said. “I was with my dad, and I know my dad used to watch the Bulls play, so it was kind of a cool moment for him to be able to see one of those legends in real life.”
With Rising Stars and All-Star Weekend now behind him, George is starting to think about the next goals on his list.
He wants to continue to see the Wizards improve – and feels confident they will, given the number of talented young players on Washington’s roster. He wants to continue improving himself. And he’d like to get back to All-Star Weekend and this time, play in the event’s signature event.
“I mean, it’s always been a goal of mine,” George said. “I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve always done what I’m supposed to do to get better every single day, and I think as long as I keep doing that, as long as I keep that mindset, there’s no reason why I won’t be playing in many Sunday games.”
In the meantime, he also noted he’ll be keeping tabs on how his alma mater is doing, especially with Miami set to open play in the ACC Tournament on Thursday and the Hurricanes eyeing another deep March run.
“I know they’re winning and they’re winning more than when I was there,” George laughed. “I’m really happy about that and I know they’re doing it the right way. I had a little conversation with my GM about it, how Miami was doing this year, and I know they’re on the right track. I really trust them going all the way.”
(Photos Courtesy Washington Wizards)
